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{{short description|British comic book story}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox comics meta series 
|character = y
|theme =

|image = EagleComic050889.jpg
|imagesize = 
|caption = Bobby Patterson, a.k.a. Computer Warrior, on the cover of ''[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]'', dated 5 August 1989.
|alt =


|debut = ''[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]''
|debutmo = 6 April
|debutyr = 1985
|alter_ego =
|full_name = Robert 'Bobby' Patterson
|species = [[Human]]
|homeworld = [[Earth]]
|alliances =
|partners = Martin French
|aliases =
|powers =

|schedule = Weekly
|format =
|limited =
|anthology = ''[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]''
|graphicnovel =
|1shot =
|individual =
|titles = ''[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]'' "The Ultimate Warrior" 6 to 27 April 1985 "Computer Warrior" 4 May 1985 to January 1994
|notable = y
|lang =
|genre =
|Adventure=y
|Adaptation =
|Adapt_link =
|publisher = [[IPC Magazines]] 1982 to 1987 [[Fleetway Publications]] 1987 to 1994
|date =
|startmo = 6 April
|startyr = 1985
|endmo = January
|endyr = 1994
|issues =
|main_char_team =
|writers = [[John Wagner]]{{efn|Credited as 'D. Spence' and 'R. Clark'.<ref name="FleetwayCompanion">{{cite book |last=Holland |first=Steve |date=2002 |title=The Fleetway Companion |url= |location=[[Rotherham]] |publisher=CJ & Publication}}</ref>}} Brian Waddle James Nicholas [[Tom Tully (writer)|Tom Tully]]
|artists = [[John Cooper (artist)|John Cooper]] [[Ian Kennedy (comics)|Ian Kennedy]] Sandy James [[Mike Western]] [[Robin Smith (comics)|Robin Smith]] Mike Dorey Dave D'Antiques
|pencillers =
|inkers =
|letterers =
|colorists =
|editors = Dave Hunt Terry Magee [[Barrie Tomlinson]]
|creative_team_month =
|creative_team_year =
|creators =
|nonUS =
|reprint =
|relang =
|relang# =
|TPB1 =
|ISBN1 =
|TPB2 =
|ISBN2 =
|subcat =
|altcat =
|alttop =
|sort = Computer Warrior
|charsort =
|addpubcat# =
}}

'''"Computer Warrior"''' (initially '''"The Ultimate Warrior"''') is a [[British comics|British comic]] strip, appearing in titles published by [[IPC Magazines]]. The story was published in the [[anthology]] ''[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]'' from 6 April 1985 to January 1994, initially written by [[John Wagner]] and drawn by [[John Cooper (artist)|John Cooper]]. The story followed the eponymous Computer Warrior - a video game expert called Bobby Patterson, who gained the ability to enter computer games. Both fictional and real games were featured in the story, which ran until ''Eagle'' was cancelled in 1994.

==Creation==
In April 1985, ''[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]'' incorporated sister title ''[[Tiger (British comics)|Tiger]]''. As well as continuing selected strips from both ''Eagle'' and ''Tiger'', as was customary for merged IPC titles ''Eagle and Tiger'' would also feature a brand-new story. This was "The Ultimate Warrior", devised by [[John Wagner]] - a prolific contributor to IPC comics in general (most notably as co-creator of ''[[2000 AD (comics)|2000 AD]]''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s [[Judge Dredd]]) and the relaunched ''Eagle'' in particular - and his writing partner [[Alan Grant (writer)|Alan Grant]].<ref name=JDM367>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Judge Dredd Megazine]]|first=Stephen|last=Jewell|publisher=[[Rebellion Developments]]|issue=367|date=16 December 2015|title=Comicana: The New Eagle - An Eighties Adventure}}</ref> While the pair worked together on the concept, only Wagner would submit the scripts. The initial four-part story was drawn by the experienced [[John Cooper (artist)|John Cooper]], who had worked with Wagner on ''[[Valiant (comics)|Valiant]]'' story "[[One-Eyed Jack (comics)|One-Eyed Jack]]".<ref name="FleetwayCompanion"/>

Grant could not recall if he and Wagner had seen the similarly themed 1982 film ''[[Tron]]''; he liked the format of the strip, noting "something similar could still be successful today" and noting it as having an inverse concept to TV series ''[[Ace Lightning]]'', which he also wrote for.<ref name=JDM367/>

==Publishing history==
Due to the sheer number of scripts Wagner and Grant submitted to IPC, editorial director John Sanders insisted the pair use pen names for much of their work;<ref name=JDM267>{{cite magazine |first=David|last=Bishop|author-link=David Bishop (writer) |date=5 February 2008|title=Interrogation: Alan Grant, Part Two - Partners in (Future) Crime|magazine=[[Judge Dredd Megazine]] |publisher=[[Rebellion Developments]]|issue=267}}</ref> as such the story was initially credited to 'D. Spence', which Wagner had previously used for boxing strip "[[List of Eagle (1982 comic) stories#The Fists of Danny Pyke|The Fists of Danny Pyke]]".<ref name=FleetwayCompanion/>

The first four-part story featured a fictional game created by Wagner and Cooper called ''Zyklon Invasion'', but from 4 May 1984 it was renamed "The Computer Warrior" and began mainly featuring real-life games sent in by manufacturers, with [[Commodore International|Commodore]] sending the pair a console and a selection of games. However, Wagner and Grant proved to be poor at playing the games and eventually had to request they were sent videos of gameplay.<ref name=JDM367/> Many of the games featured were featured in parallel competitions and other promotions in ''Eagle'' alongside the strip.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

The strip proved popular with readers, and would run until ''Eagle'' itself was cancelled at the start of 1994, a record only matched by [[Dan Dare]]. Brian Waddle contributed some scripts in 1987, while in 1990 Wagner was credited under another pseudonym, 'R. Clark', for a few months before James Nicholas took over as writer from August 1990 (aside from a single fill-in episode by [[Tom Tully (writer)|Tom Tully]]). Ian Kennedy, Mike Western, Robin Smith, Mike Dorey and Dave D'Antiques were among those to draw the series.<ref name=FleetwayCompanion/>

The ''Eagle'' became a monthly comic in the early nineties; "Computer Warrior" and "Dan Dare" became the only strips that weren't reprints. The comic eventually ceased production in January 1994 and the storyline was quickly wrapped up.<ref name=FleetwayCompanion/>

==Plot==
Bobby Patterson's friend Martin French mysteriously disappears. Bobby receives a message in which Martin reveals that he had discovered a code to activate a 'real life facility' on his computer, enabling him to literally enter the computer games realm - and that his disappearance means that he has lost a game and is now trapped within the Nightmare Zone. In order to rescue Martin, Bobby must practice on the games before using the code to play the games in the computer realm. A single loss would mean Bobby himself would also be trapped in the Nightmare Zone. The only way for Bobby to free Martin was to complete 10 games himself using the code. Bobby made great progress through the tests, including overcoming various real life problems with his mother and father. Once Martin had the chance to free himself by finding a secret tunnel in the Nightmare Zone where he met the computer who gave him one chance to escape, by completing without practice the game ''UggaBulla''. He failed. Eventually Bobby saw through all ten games, Martin was rescued and Bobby gained the title of Computer Warrior.<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[John Cooper (artist)|John Cooper]], Sandy James, [[Mike Western]]|date=6 April 1985 to 31 May 1986|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref>

Bobby then discovered the purpose of the challenge was to find a champion to defeat the dark forces of the Nightmare Zone. The realm's ruler, the Computer Warlord, gathered together all qualified Computer Warriors and eliminated them one by one before banishing them to the Nightmare Zone in a series of tests to find the 'Ultimate Warrior'. As before, each test was the successful completion of a popular computer game of the time. Bobby made friends and enemies amongst the other Computer Warriors as the tests went on, but eventually Bobby emerged triumphant and became the Computer Warlord's champion; the other Computer Warriors being freed from the Nightmare Zone.

The Computer Warlord then set Bobby five more tests to defeat the Nightmare Zone creatures once and for all. In the final test the Nightmare Zone creatures picked a champion to defeat Bobby - his evil self. Bobby defeated this last enemy and the Nightmare Zone creatures were trapped in a 'cube of holding' by the Warlord.

In later stories, Bobby defeated various Nightmare Zone creatures who refused to enter the cube and then became the Computer Warlord, the old one having died and bequeathing the title to Bobby. Bobby used his new found status to invite Eagle readers to play real life games.

In one of Eagle's many revamps, a new attempt was made to refresh the Computer Warrior storyline. Bobby was summoned before the Council of Warlords to be told he wasn't really a Computer Warlord, and they demoted him back to Computer Warrior. Another Warlord named Baal explained to Bobby that they too were being attacked by Nightmare Zone creatures and he needed a champion to defeat them. Bobby then proceeded to complete more video games under Baal's direction.

The Eagle concluded its run in January 1994. For the final video game test, Bobby played ''Another World''. When this was successfully completed, he was told by Baal that "no test had been too great" and he had now defeated the Nightmare Zone forces. How he achieved this was left unexplained. Bobby was returned to his home and told that all his adventures had taken place in seconds in the real world and he would no longer be needed. Bobby pleaded with Baal to come back but had to contend with himself that he would miss being the Computer Warrior.<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]], Brian Waddle, James Nicholas, [[Tom Tully (writer)|Tom Tully]]|artist=[[John Cooper (artist)|John Cooper]], [[Ian Kennedy (comics)|Ian Kennedy]], Sandy James, [[Mike Western]], [[Robin Smith (comics)|Robin Smith]], Mike Dorey, Dave D'Antiques|date=7 June 1986 to January 1994|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]], [[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>

=== Games featured===
While the comic featured both fictional and real games, the majority of the titles were games published in the UK by [[U.S. Gold]] for 8 and 16 bit computers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mekon.tripod.com/compwar.html|title=Computer Warrior Games|website=mekon.tripod.com}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=MY EYES! MY EYES!|date=September 2023}}

In earlier issues, the computer used had the appearance of a Commodore 64, but was later changed to resemble an Atari St without explanation
{{collist|colwidth=15em|
*''Zyklon Attack''†<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=The Ultimate Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[John Cooper (artist)|John Cooper]]|date=6 to 27 April 1985|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref>
*''[[Wizard of Wor]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[Ian Kennedy (comics)|Ian Kennedy]]|date=4 May to 1 June 1985|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref>
*''[[Pastfinder]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Sandy Jones|date=8 June to 13 July 1985|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref>
*''[[Rescue on Fractalus!]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[John Cooper (artist)|John Cooper]]|date=20 July to 24 August 1985|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref>
*''[[The Great American Cross-Country Road Race]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[Ian Kennedy (comics)|Ian Kennedy]], [[John Cooper (artist)|John Cooper]]|date=31 August to 12 October 1985|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref>
*''[[Ghostbusters (video game)|Ghostbusters]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[Ian Kennedy (comics)|Ian Kennedy]]|date=19 October to 23 November 1985|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref>
*''Walls of Jericho''†<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[John Cooper (artist)|John Cooper]]|date=30 November 1985 to 11 January 1986|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref>
*''[[Desert Fox (computer game)|Desert Fox]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[Mike Western]]|date=18 January to 22 February 1986|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref>
*''[[Psi 5 Trading Company]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[Mike Western]]|date=12 April to 3 May 1986|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref>
*''Uggabulla''†<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[Mike Western]]|date=10 to 31 May 1986|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref>
*''[[Silent Service (video game)|Silent Service]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[Mike Western]]|date=7 June to 12 July 1986|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref>
*''[[Kung-Fu Master (video game)|Kung Fu Master]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[Mike Western]]|date=19 July to 13 September 1986|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref>
*''[[Infiltrator (video game)|Infiltrator]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[Mike Western]]|date=20 September to 1 November 1986|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref>+
*''[[Gauntlet (arcade game)|Gauntlet]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[Robin Smith (comics)|Robin Smith]]|date=27 December 1986 to 28 February 1987|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref>
*''[[Express Raider]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[Robin Smith (comics)|Robin Smith]]|date=7 March to 2 May 1987|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref>
*''[[World Games (computer game)|World Games]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]], Brian Waddle|artist=[[Robin Smith (comics)|Robin Smith]]|date=9 May to 13 June 1987|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]]}}</ref>
*''[[Ace of Aces (computer game)|Ace of Aces]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[Robin Smith (comics)|Robin Smith]]|date=20 June to 1 August 1987|publisher=[[IPC Magazines]], [[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''[[Metro Cross]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[Robin Smith (comics)|Robin Smith]], [[Mike Western]]|date=8 August to 5 September 1987|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''[[Impossible Mission II]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[Mike Western]]|date=12 September to 31 October 1987|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''[[Side Arms Hyper Dyne]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[Mike Western]]|date=7 November to 19 December 1987|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''Black Christmas''†<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=[[Mike Western]]|date=26 December 1987 to 23 January 1988|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''[[Wizard Warz]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Mike Dorey|date=30 January to 19 March 1988|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''Battlefield 3000''†<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Mike Dorey|date=26 March to 16 April 1988|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''[[4th & Inches]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Mike Dorey|date=23 April to 28 May 1988|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''[[Dream Warrior]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Mike Dorey|date=4 June to 9 July 1988|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''Blood of Dracula''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Mike Dorey|date=16 July to 20 August 1988|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''[[Bionic Commando]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Mike Dorey|date=27 August to 22 October 1988|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''[[RoadBlasters]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Mike Dorey|date=29 October to 24 December 1988|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''[[ThunderBlade]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Mike Dorey|date=7 January to 25 February 1989|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''The Deep''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Mike Dorey|date=4 March to 29 April 1989|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''[[Zak McKracken and the Alien Mindbenders]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Mike Dorey|date=6 May to 1 July 1989|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''[[Forgotten Worlds]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Mike Dorey|date=22 July to 2 September 1989|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''[[Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Action Game]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Mike Dorey|date=9 September to 14 October 1989|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''Slay Ride''‡
*''[[Turbo Outrun]]''
*''[[Ghouls and Ghosts]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Mike Dorey|date=3 March to 21 April 1990|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''[[Black Tiger (video game)|Black Tiger]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Mike Dorey|date=28 April to 16 June 1990|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''Crackdown''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Mike Dorey, Dave D'Antiques|date=23 June to 4 August 1990|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''[[Dynasty Wars]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Mike Dorey|date=11 August to 29 September 1990|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''[[U.N. Squadron]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Mike Dorey|date=6 October to 1 December 1990|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''Time Warrior''†<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Mike Dorey|date=1 December 1990 to 2 February 1991|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''[[ESWAT: City Under Siege|ESWAT]]''<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]]|artist=Mike Dorey|date=9 February to March 23, 1991|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''Space Attack''†<ref>{{cite comic|title=[[Eagle (1982 comic)|Eagle]]|story=Computer Warrior|writer=[[John Wagner]], James Nicholas, [[Tom Tully (writer)|Tom Tully]]|artist=Mike Dorey|date=30 March 1990 to October 1991|publisher=[[Fleetway Publications]]}}</ref>
*''[[Mercs]]''
*''Army War''†
*''[[Street Fighter 2]]''
*''[[Another World (video game)|Another World]]''
}}
*† = Fictional game.
*‡ = Fictional game, devised by ''Eagle'' readers.<ref name=FleetwayCompanion/>

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/c/computer.htm Computer Warrior at International Heroes]

{{Buster}}
{{Alan Grant}}

[[Category:Fleetway and IPC Comics characters]]
[[Category:Eagle (1982) comic strips]]
[[Category:1994 comics endings]]
[[Category:Comics by John Wagner]]
[[Category:Fiction about computing]]
[[Category:British comic strips]]

Computer Warrior - Revision history

imported>BoomboxTestarossa: /* Creation */ Correction